Freshman guards Riley Kugel and Denzel Aberdeen came together to the University of Florida during the offseason to experience collegiate basketball at the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex for the very first time, running drills side-by-side with one another. However, this isn’t the first time they have played on the same court before.
Kugel and Aberdeen have known each other since the second grade and have gone on to play together for the Dr.Phillips High School varsity team in Orlando, Florida, and in AAU ball for Each One Teach One as teammates. Both helped bring Dr. Phillips its first state championship, winning the 2021 7A state championship game with the duo combining for 40 points.